Power driven dispenser



y 7, 1955 D. H. MASON ETAL 2,708,534

POWER DRIVEN DISPENSER Filed 001:. 11, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Attorney United States Patent POWER DRIVEN DISPENSER Dick H. Mason and Axel Frederick Palmer, Delano,

Calif.; Millan Mildred Palmer, executrix to Axel Frederick Palmer, deceased Application October 11, 1949, Serial No. 120,644 3 Claims. (Cl. 222310) This invention has to do with a power driven dispenser and it is more specifically concerned with a device or machine which handles finely divided solid matter or materials and acts to discharge or dispense such material or materials in a predetermined manner. It is a general object of the invention to provide a machine or dispenser that is particularly practical, effective and dependable for handling materials that are powdered, granular, or otherwise conditioned so that they flow or tend to flow.

This invention is concerned with a dispenser for handling solid material or materials as distinguished from liquids and it is particularly practical for the handling of solid materials that are in such condition as to flow after the manner of powders, granular materials, etc. As an example of a practical use of the present device it will be described as employed for handling fertilizer supplied in solid and substantially dry form and divided or conditioned either for distribution over a field, or the like, or for deposit in a body of water, or the like, to be dissolved therein.

In the following description when we refer to material being handled by the device of the present invention as being a solid in divided form and subject to flow we refer to solid material, as distinguished from liquid material, and we refer to a solid which is powdered, granular or otherwise divided to such extent as to flow under the action of gravity or when acted upon by agencies such as are incorporated in the machine. It is to be understood that most materials when ground, powdered, or finely divided will flow or act to best advantage when dry, and ordinarily dry materials will be employed in the present machine. However, it is to be recognized that if desired the material being handled may include or have combined with it a certain amount of moisture, though it is not intended that the machine be used to handle material including moisture to the extent that the mass is characteristically liquid.

The machine of the present invention is intended for various uses or for handling various materials under a wide variety of conditions and for purpose of example it will be described as used under two typical conditions, one where it is on or carried by a vehicle so that as it operates to discharge material, such material is distributed over the surface or field traversed by the vehicle. Another example to be referred to is where the machine is employed so that it discharges into a body of water, preferably a stream, so that the material is discharged into the stream to be taken up thereby or to be dissolved therein in order to condition the stream for use, as for instance in irrigation, or the like.

The machine of the present invention involves, essentially, a container preferably formed with a vertically disposed body and a hopper-like vertical extension above the body, which container serves to carry a suitable quantity or charge of material to be dispensed. A base is provided for mounting on or application to a suitable support and a mounting means carries the container on or from the base, preferably in vertical spaced relation tion suitable for application to or use on a vehicle. Fig. 1 of the drawings several machines embodying the thereto. A discharge means is provided to receive material from or in the container and to move it so that it is discharged from the container to fall by gravity from the machine. In one form of the invention there are two units of the discharge means and they involve material handling screws carried on a common rotating shaft. The invention provides a drive for the shaft and a control governing the handling of the material by the discharge means. The control is subject to regulation or adjustment to vary the amount of material discharged from the machine and in its preferred form it involves a shield over the discharge means. The shield has an inlet port or opening under control of a gate. A feed means is provided to assure proper feed of material to the dis charge means through the control and, in accordance with the invention, the feed means involves a disc so related to the container as to form the bottom thereof and the disc is operated, preferably rotated, to carry material through the port of the control means to the screw of the discharge means. Operating means is provided for the disc of the feed means, and in accordance with the present invention it intermittently operates the disc rendering the machine effective for handling materials that are not satisfactorily handled by mechanisms which operate continuously. The preferred operating means for the disc involves a ratchet mechanism driven from the shaft which carries the screw or screws of the discharge means.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a machine or dispenser of the general character hereinabove referred to, wherein an intermittently operated element handles the material so that the action of the machine is uniform and dependable. Material of the general character hereinabove referred to as being handled by the machine of the present invention is difficult to feed or distribute uniformly and machines that continuously or uniformly act on the material tend to clog or to allow slippage to such extent that their action is not satisfactory. The machine of the present invention by providing an intermittently operating device which feeds the material acts consistently and dependably and results in a machine which is reasonably accurate and commercially practical.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the general character referred to wherein the discharge means and the feed means, both of which elements involve working parts, are cooperatively related so that they act in synchronism. In the preferred form of the present invention the discharge means operates or rotates continuously and at a uniform speed, whereas the material handling element of the feed means, which is driven from the constantly operating element of the discharge means, operates intermittently.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the general character referred to which is of simple practical inexpensive construction, the various parts of the machine being of simple construction and operation and those parts of the machine which require care, attention or adjustment are all readily accessible and such that they can be very easily operated.

The various objects and features of our invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, illustrate a form of the invenpresent invention are shown supported by a pair of wheels to form a unit drawn by a suitable draft vehicle, Fig. 1 being a plan view of the assembly. Fig. 2 is a view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, being a View taken as indicated by line 2-2 on Fig. 1. 3 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view of a portion of the structure taken in the direction indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a reduced view of a portion of the structure being a view taken in the direction indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan section taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 77 on Fig. 5.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a machine embodying the present invention employed in a situation where the machine is stationary and serves to dispense or discharge material into a body or stream of water, Fig. 8 being a view illustrating the manner in which the machine is related to the stream of Water and Fig. 9 being an enlarged section of the machine taken substantially as indicated by line 9-9 on Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a view of parts shown in Fig. 5, being a view showing the crank operating the member that carries the pawl driving the feed disc.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7,

inclusive, being particularly applicable to use on or in connection with a vehicle, is shown carried by a horizontally disposed frame 19 which is supported by wheels 11. The frame 1% is coupled to a suitable draft vehicle 12 by a hitch or draft connection 13 so that the frame trails the vehicle and extends transversely of the path of the vehicle. In the particular case illustrated a plurality of machines embodying the present invention is arranged in series lengthwise of the frame It! in the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In practice all of the machines, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be alike and therefore we will describe but one machine, it being understood that such description may be applicable to as many machines as are required in any particular case.

The machine embodying the present invention includes, generally, a base A applicable to a frame 10 or other suitable support, a container B which may be in the nature of an open topped bin-like structure shaped and proportioned to carry a suitable body or supply of material to be dispensed, mounting means C by which the container B is mounted on the base A, discharge means D acting to discharge material from the container B and preferably characterized by a continuously rotating shaft 14 carrying one or more material propelling devices or screws 15, a drive E operating the discharge means and preferably serving to rotate the shaft 14 of such means at a uniform speed, control means F governing the action or handling of the material by the discharge means, feed means G acting to assure flow or feed of material from the container to the discharge means under control of the means F and operating means H for the feed means, preferably serving to operate the feed means from the discharge means so that these elements operate in synchronisrn.

The base A may, in practice, vary widely in form and construction as circumstances require. trated the base is shown suitable for application to the particular frame 10 illustrated and it is shown as involving a fiat horizontally disposed base plate 16 which may be directly applied to the frame 10.

The container may, in practice, vary widely in form and construction depending upon factors such as the material to be handled, the desired capacity, etc. In the case illustrated the container is shown as involving a main portion or body 20 which is a cylindrical vertically disposed element and it has a vertical extension 21 on or above the body 29 which may, in practice, he upwardly divergent so that it is funnel-like, and thus serves to effectively direct material into the body portion 20 to be handled by the mechanism hereinafter described. The machine includes an element in the form of a disc 22 which closes the lower end of body 29 and therefore may be considered as a bottom for the container, although it is more properly a part of the feed means as will be hereinafter described.

The mounting means C supports the container B from In the case illus- 5 in the lower portion of the container covering or 4 and preferably above the base A and it preferably supports the container with the body vertically disposed so that its lower end 22a, which is finished to be flat and smooth, is in a horizontal plane, or at least is in a plane normal to the axis of the disc element 22, as will be hereinafter described. The particular mounting means illustrated in the drawings involves a plurality of studs 23 projecting upwardly from the base plate 16 to extend into or through openings (not shown) in the body 20 of the container. In the case illustrated lugs or bosses 24 project from the exterior of the body 20 at the lower end portion thereof and the studs extend vertically through openings in the bosses 24. Body supporting nuts 25 are threaded on the studs 23 to carry or support the bosses and lock nuts 28 are threaded on the studs above the bosses to be tightened against the bosses to secure them on the studs. In the particular case illustrated there are four studs circumferentially spaced around the body 20 and through the construction just described the body 20 can be adjusted relative to the base by operating the nuts on the studs so as to bring the bottom end 22a of the body into the desired position relative the disc 22.

The discharge means D acts to receive material in or from the lower end portion of the container and delivers such material outwardly through discharge ports 30 in the wall of body 20, at or adjacent the lower end thereof. In the particular case being described there are two discharge ports in the body 20 of the container and in such case it is preferred to locate the ports diametrically opposite each other. With two discharge ports provided to handle material from the container the discharge means involves two screws 15, or the like, which may be carried by a single shaft 14 mounted to extend diametrically of the body 20 in the lower end portion thereof. In the case illustrated the screws 15 on the shaft 14 are simple helical feed devices and the shaft 14 is arranged to extend through the ports 30 so that its end portions project in a manner to be carried in bearings 33 suitably mounted at the exterior of the body 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. By providing oppositely pitched feed screws 15 on the shaft 14 continuous rotation of the shaft results in material engaged with the screws being fed inopposite directions and out through the oppositely located discharge ports 30 and from the ports 30 the material is free to fall by gravity in the manner indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. p

The drive E provided for operating the shaft 14 of the discharge means is such as to utilize power from a prime mover or any suitable source so that the shaft 14 is driven uniformly or continuously. In the case illustrated in the drawings a single drive shaft 36 extends lengthwise of the series of machines carried on the frame 10 and at each machine the shaft is supported in a bearing 37 on the side of the body of the machine. A suitable drive such as a chain drive 38 operates the shaft from one of the wheels 11 so that as the draft vehicle 12 is operated drawing the wheel supported frame behind it,.

the machines on the frame are operated. In an arrangement such as that just described a suitable drive is provided from the shaft 36 to the shaft 14 of the discharge means. In the case illustrated a chain drive 38 is provided between the shafts. It will be understood that through the drive just described the desired ratio may be established between the driver or wheel 11 and the shaft 14 so that the discharge means operates at the desired rate.

The control P is provided to govern the action or operation of the discharge means, not by varying the speed of operation of the discharge means but by control ling the amount or material admitted to the screws of. the discharge means. Where the machine has two discharge ports 30 and therefore two screws 15 it is provided with a control for each screw.

In the preferred form of the invention the control related to each screw 15 involves a hood or shield 40 engaged over the screw. The shield cooperates with the container to define a downwardly opening chamber or compartment carrying the screw and having an inlet port 41 in one side or vertically disposed part at which point the structure is provided with a gate or control plate 42 that controls the port 41. In the particular case illustrated the shield has a flat top portion 43, a vertical back 44 and a front 45 in which the port 41 is located. Where there are two discharge screws 15 and, therefore, two controls, the tops 43 of the controls may be joined to be a single continuous plate-like part occurring in the lower end portion of the container. The two controls being located at or over the screws with which they cooperate are located at diametrically opposite points in the lower end portion of the container and they are fixed in like manner or so that their front walls 45 face the direction in which the disc element 22 is advanced, as will be hereinafter described.

The control plate 42 of each control is preferably a flat vertically disposed plate engaged on or over the front face of the front wall 45 and the plate is supported by a suitable mounting means 50 so that it is adjustable vertically. In the preferred form of the invention the lower edge 51 of the plate is straight and horizontally disposed and it is beneath this edge that material passes to reach the screw which discharges it from the machine.

The plate supporting means 50, as shown in the drawings, involves a stem 53 secured to the plate and projecting therefrom through a vertical slot 54 in the body 20 of the container. A friction shoe 55 is carried on the stem at the outer side of the body and a spring 56 on the stem normally yielding urges the shoe against the exterior of the body so that the plate carried by the stem is frictionally held in the desired position. The spring 56 is retained on the stem by a pin 56 that extends horizontally to a point adjacent the exterior of body 20 where the body is provided with a scale or graduations 56 that indicate the position of the plate. By providing the stem 53 at the exterior of the body it is accessible so that it can be moved up or down at will to effect the desired adjustment, whether the machine is full of material or is in operation, or both.

The feed means G is provided to assure proper feeding of material from the container B to the discharge means D and as stated above it includes the disc element 22 which is horizontally disposed and which occurs at 01 immediately adjacent the lower end of body 20 of the container to, in effect, form a closure or bottom for the container and a part which cooperates with the control plates 42 to determine the amount of material passed to the screws and which cooperates with the screws in holding the material in position to be advanced thereby. The disc 22 which is the principal element of the feed means is rotatably supported on a vertical axis central of the body 20, as by means of a suitable bearing 60, the bearing being carried by the base plate 16. In practice it is preferred to employ a disc 22 which is a simple, flat horizontally disposed plate-like element rotating on a vertical axis and the body 20 is adjusted through the mounting means C so that its lower end 22 closely approaches the top face of the disc 22 so that material will not escape between the disc and body, working clearance being provided so that the disc returns or rotates freely relative to the body.

The operating means F provided for driving or operating the feed disc 22 is such as to intermittently operate or rotate the disc with the result that material resting on the disc which forms a bottom for the container has an opportunity to settle somewhat onto the disc and be engaged therewith so that when the disc is moved the material moves with it and is carried beneath the control plates 42 into position to be engaged and operated upon by the screws 15.

In the preferred form of the invention a ratchet mechanism is provided for intermittently moving the said disc and in the case illustrated the ratchet mechanism involves a pawl 70 pivotally carried by the portion or stem 71 of a crank member to cooperate with ratchet teeth 72 on the periphery of the disc 22. The structure ispreferably proportioned so that the ratchet teeth project from the periphery of the disc and beyond the periphery of the body at the lower end thereof. The pawl 70 is pivotally carried by the stem portion 71 and a spring 73 is engaged with the pawl and normally yieldingly holds it in engagement with the toothed periphery of the disc. The stem portion 71 is a substantially vertical element havin'g'its upper end portion carried by a bracket on the exterior of the container. The stem 71 extends loosely through a hole in bracket 85 so it can turn or rotate and so its lower portion can swing somewhat. In the case illustrated the crank member, of which the stem 71 is, a part, has a crank arm 71 joined to the lower end of stem 71 and projecting laterally therefrom (see Fig. 4). ,A' pivot pin 71 depends from the crank arm 71 and is rotatably supported by the base plate 16. I t The operating means includes a drive for oscillating the crank member, that is, the crank arm 71 and the stem 71 that projects up therefrom, so that the desired action is imparted to the pawl and in the preferred arrangement this drive involves a crank arm 86 on one end of shaft 14. The crank arm 86 carries a crank pin 87 which operates the arm, it being preferred to provide an anti-friction bearing sleeve 88 on the crank pin to engage the stem 71. By providing a crank mem-. ber 'With a crank arm 71 of suitable length, and by suitably locating the pivotal support for the upper end portion of the stem 71, and by providing acrank arm 86 having the desired throw the pawl carried by stem 71 is operated a predetermined amount each time the shaft 14 revolves, with the result that the disc 22 is fed or advanced the desired amount in relation to the operating of the screws of the discharge means. In the preferred arrangement a spring 89 is engaged with the arm 71 to normally yieldingly hold it in cooperative engagement with the bearing sleeve 88 on the crank pin 87.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that machines embodying the present invention may be advantageously mounted on a frame 10 so that the ports 30 of the machines through which the material is discharged are in line lengthwise of the frame and as the draft vehicle operates the machines are operated and the material is discharged therefrom in a substantially uni form manner and in amounts governed by the settings of the control plates 42. Since the feed disc operates intermittently in order to assure proper feeding of the material, the flow from the machines may not be altogether constant or uniform, but it is nearly so and is sufficiently uniform for the general purposes indicated.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings the machine is such as to advantageously feed material to a body or stream S of water, or the like. In this case the machine may be the same as the one hereinabove described, except that it need have but one outlet port 30 and therefore but one unit of the discharge means and but one unit of control means cooperating with the discharge means. In other respects the machine may be the same as or identical with that above described and the general action or operation may be as described.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings a supply 90 of water, as for instance water for irrigation, is shown feeding the stream S and as the water flows in the stream S the machine of the present invention operates or is driven as by a prime mover M, so that it dispenses material into the stream to provide the desired treatment thereof.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to ourselves any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A dispenser of the character described including, a stationary vertically disposed container open at its lower end and adapted to carry material to be dispensed, a horizontally disposed discharge screw in the lower portion of the container adapted to move material from within the lower end portion of the exterior of the container, control means adapted to regulate flow of material from within the container to the discharge means, a rotatable disc closing the lower end of the container and adapted to feed material from within the container to the discharge means subject to action of the control means, and a drive adapted to intermittently turn the disc, the control means including a stationary shield in the container enclosing the discharge means and having an inlet port at one side and adjacent the disc, a control plate adapted to regulate the effective size of the port, and means supporting the plate adjacent said side of the shield and including a stem projecting from the plate and having a part accessible at the exterior of the container to effect adjustment of the plate relative to the shield.

2. A dispenser of the character described including, a stationary vertically disposed container open at its lower end and adapted to carry material to be dispensed, a discharge screw in the lower portion of the container adapted to move material from within the lower end portion of the container to the exterior of the container, control means adapted to regulate flow of material to the discharge means, a rotatable disc adjacent and closing the bottom of the container and adapted to feed material from within the lower portion of the container to the discharge means subject to the action of the control means, a drive adapted to operate the disc intermittently, the control means ineluding a stationary shield in the container covering the discharge means and having a side wall with an inlet port adjacent the disc, a vertically shiftable control plate adjacent said side wall and adapted to regulate the port, means supporting the plate adjacent said side wall of the shield including, a stem projecting from the plate with a part accessible at the exterior of the container, and friction means holding the plate in adjusted position.

3. A dispenser of the character described including, a stationary vertically disposed container open at the bottom and adapted to carry material to be dispensed, discharge means in the container at the lower end portion thereof and including a material handling screw disposed transversely of the container, drive means adapted to continuously operate the screw, a rotatable disc adjacent the lower end of the container supporting material held by the container and adapted to carry material to the discharge means, a ratchet drive operated by the discharge means and adapted to intermittently turn the disc, and control means including, a shield over the screw and having a side wall with an inlet opening adjacent the disc, a vertically shiftable gate cooperating with the shield and controlling the opening, and means frictionally holding the gate in adjusted position relative to the shield.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Peters Feb. 26, 1889 

